Public urged to help shape the future

Medway residents are being urged to make the most of an opportunity to let the council know what they think of local services. A questionnaire is being sent to a random sample of about 3,000 residents asking for their views on the way public services are delivered. Known as the Place Survey, it is a new consultation being carried out by alI local councils. The government has issued specific guidance on the questions to be asked in the Place Survey and on the way the exercise has to be carried out, although councils are able to add some local questions. The idea is that the answers to the questions will help councils and the government understand residents' views and experiences regarding where they live and the services they receive and help them target improvements. The results will also feed into the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) framework that the government has introduced to monitor the way councils deliver local public services. The survey, which is being carried out for the council by Ipsos MORI, is 12 pages long and contains around 40 questions. It will be posted to a random sample of households from 25 September 2008 and the council is urging anyone who is given this opportunity to influence future services to take advantage of it. Completed surveys need to be returned by Friday, 19 December 2008. The surveys are confidential and anonymous. The results of the survey will be available in early 2009 and will be widely publicised, as well as being made available on the council's web site at www.medway.gov.uk For further information contact Customer First on 01634 333333.